This weekend is the 3rd annual Island Savings Family Sport & Recreation Festival in Victoria. While I don’t profile Island events very frequently, this one has a special place in my heart. From Saturday, May 5th from 10:00am to 4:00pm you can check out a free day of interactive sports and recreation for the family at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (“PISE”).
The Family Sport & Recreation Festival will also feature a Parasport Festival, which will provide an opportunity for both those with a disability and able-bodied visitors to try out a parasport for themselves. Para-athletes will be on hand including para-cyclist Karen March who is on the road to London 2012 and was recently named Athlete of the Year from the Canadian Women in Sports Awards.
This free family festival will also have interactive displays, information booths, sport demonstrations, a climbing wall, a zipline, and more. PISE is located at Camosun College’s Interurban campus (4371 Interurban Road, Saanich, BC).
Follow the Canadian Paralympic team and committee on Twitter and Facebook for more information about this event and others in the future.
As a side note, we received some good news this morning, John and I have been accredited for the 2012 London Paralympic Games, happening August 29th to September 9th.
Coming off an incredible high of national and local pride during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, I had no idea what to expect from the Paralympics that followed. The torch route was smaller and the lines at the previously packed pavilions were shorter. I wasn’t familiar with many of our Canadian para-athletes but within the first day, in fact starting with the impressive and energetic opening ceremonies, I knew this was an area of sport that I needed to learn about.
I ended up attending more events at the Paralympics than the Olympics, publishing a dozens posts, and have followed up with anniversary posts and an interview with London 2012’s Assistant Chef de Mission, Elisabeth Walker-Young.
I would encourage everyone to follow the Paralympics this year and attend community events like the Family Sport & Recreation Festival to learn more.
April’s showers are flowing over into May as more than half of our days so far in 2012 have been soggy. With that behind us, let’s look ahead to a bright, sunny, and very busy month of events ahead.
Marvel’s The Avengers, one of the season’s most highly anticipated films, makes its way to theatres tomorrow. Packed with with star-studded superhero action, the movie features Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vancouver’s own Cobie Smulders, and more.
This is an exclusive Vancouver Sun and Province screening, but Acura has kindly invited one Miss604 winner and 3 of their friends to this event as well. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment here naming one of the Marvel’s The Avengers superheroes (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win your way into a special screening of #TheAvengers from @HondaCanada & @Miss604 http://ow.ly/aFRND
The Avengers (3D; runtime 143 minutes) is rated PG. The screening will take place Saturday, May 5, 2012 at The Park (3440 Cambie) and doors will open at 9:00am with the film starting at 9:30am. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Friday, May 4, 2012. The winner will receive admission for four to the event.
Craving more local playoff hockey? The AHL Abbotsford Heat are in the middle of the second round of Calder Cup playoffs and they’re currently on an 11-game winning streak.
2011 Abbotsford Heat. Photo credit: 5of7 on Flickr
The Heat, whose NHL affiliate is the Calgary Flames, are currently facing off against the Toronto Marlies, affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They have already won their first game against the Marlies and game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 3rd with a 4:00pm (Pacific) puck drop in Toronto.
Their first home game of the Toronto series will be this Saturday, May 5th. Tickets are currently available, ranging from $18.75 to $43.75. Game 4 will also be played in Abbotsford on Tuesday, May 8th.
Follow Twitter and Facebook for more information and playoff ticket giveaways and cheer on our local team.
Update I’m giving away a pair of tickets to Tuesday’s game (May 8th) on Twitter only. The contest is open from 10:45am on Monday, May 7, 2012 until 5:00pm on Monday, May 7, 2012 for anyone who uses the tag #Heat604 on Twitter. I will draw one winner at random from all entries.
EPIC Expo, Western Canada’s largest sustainable lifestyle showcase, is coming to the Vancouver Convention Centre May 11th to May 13th. Over 20,000 people will attend Vancouver’s 6th annual EPIC Expo to check out 300 exhibitors, shop for eco-friendly products, get ideas for the home and office, and be entertained.
Mike Holmes speaking at EPIC Expo Vancouver in 2008.
Check out the EPICurean Corner to sample from BC’s finest restaurants and wineries, discover eco-fashion on the EPIC Catwalk, and play in the EPIC KidZone with the Granville Island Toy Company. You can also test drive a Toyota or luxury Lexus hybrid vehicle at the Ride’n Drive station.
Main Stage
The main stage will feature: Urban Farmer Chris Thoreau, Peak Performance Project finalists The Boom Booms, Founder of Five Hole for Food Richard Loat, Harvinder Gill from the Recycling Council of BC, Co-Founder of the Green Party of BC Adriane Carr, and more.
Tickets & Hours
Tickets are currently available for $20 (3-day pass) or $12 (for a single day). There are also child, senior, and student rates.
Event hours are Friday, May 11, 2012 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm; Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 11:00am to 7:00pm; Sunday, May 13 (Mother’s Day) from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
Contest
I have four pairs of day passes to give away that include entry to the EPICurean Corner (which is an additional $5 value). Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment with your top tip for living “green” (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win passes to @EPIC_Expo Vancouver from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/aEPJu
I will draw 4 winners on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 8:00am. You must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win since the EPICurean Corner serves alcohol. Follow EPIC Expo Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Update The winners are: Kim, Vanessa, @flipnfunny, and Tara.
